Ryder Cup: We pick out the best quotes including Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett
Saturday 1 October 2016 02:14, UK
The 41st Ryder Cup is finely poised after a superb European fightback on day one at a "hostile" Hazeltine on Friday.
Darren Clarke's side recovered from a 4-0 whitewash in the morning foursomes to trail 5-3 heading into day two.
Here, we pick out the best quotes on a dramatic day in Minnesota.
Rory McIlroy and an inspired Thomas Pieters ended a rollercoaster day on a high note by beating US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar 3&2.
"It's pretty hostile out there, I must say. You don't want to let that get to you but you want to let them know when you hole a putt how much it means to you.
"I lost myself a little in the middle and thankfully redeemed myself at the end but all the credit has to go to this guy (Pieters).
"He has been incredible all day. He is a stud."
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Europe captain Darren Clarke: "I'm massively proud of them to do what we did. We were bitterly disappointed at lunchtime, we just did not play the way we know they can and America did.
"And then the guys come out this afternoon to put in a performance like that, the performance was scintillating."
Olympic champion Justin Rose on playing with Open champion Henrik Stenson: "We didn't really put a foot wrong tee-to-green this morning, but we didn't make any putts. This afternoon, brilliant. We obviously got running and dovetailed really well."
Brandt Snedeker was proud of Cup rookie Brooks Koepka, who crushed Germany's Martin Kaymer and Masters champion Danny Willett of England 5&4.
"My job today was to come out and make putts, and just let Brooks do what he does. Brooks played fantastic. It was an awesome win for us. We needed it and we're going to build on this thing going forward."
US captain Davis Love III: "We just ran into a couple of buzz saws. Our guys still played really well and I'm proud of them for fighting all day.
"We played really well in the morning, and we actually played pretty good this afternoon. They just made a bunch of birdies. Obviously Rory made a ton of them."
Phil Mickelson earned the afternoon off after teaming with Rickie Fowler to win their opening match in a morning foursomes.
"Certainly I felt more pressure heading into today's matches. Given the build-up over the last couple years, the criticism, the comments, what have you, the pressure was certainly as great, or greater, than I've ever felt.
"I could have copped out and asked to sit. That would have been a total weak move, and I wanted to get out there," Mickelson said. "Put me out there. I enjoy that pressure."
Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker beat Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer 4&2 by winning the final five holes.
"Once you see some red up there and see positives outside of your own group, there's a confidence that comes from that and confidence breeds momentum. That's just what we witnessed this morning," Johnson said.
"We're not shocked by the morning outcome. However, if it didn't end up like that, trust would not have wavered. We would have gotten back out and fought."
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Martin Kaymer: "It's a different game we play in the afternoon and I think we are all ready. We are fired up. We want to keep that trophy and bring it home to Europe."
Reigning Masters champion Danny Willett teed off at the Ryder Cup Friday to a stream of catcalls from hecklers upset over his brother's insults to American golf fans.
"It was anticipated," Willett said. "It was one of those things, like I said before, coming to America is a tough one.
"Just like when the Americans come to Europe, they gave me a little bit more. It was anticipated," Willett added. "It was one of those things, like I said before, coming to America is a tough one.
"Just like when the Americans come to Europe, they gave me a little bit more."
